How far would you agree How far would you agree that the main reason for that the main reason for

the growth of Sinn Fein was the growth of Sinn Fein was the Easter Rising?the Easter Rising?

Connection between Rising and SF Connection between Rising and SF

To be accurate……..NONETo be accurate……..NONE SF in 1916 was monarchist, non-violent SF in 1916 was monarchist, non-violent

and under Griffith’s leadership quite and under Griffith’s leadership quite distinct from IRB and IVF. distinct from IRB and IVF.

Could not identify with the rebels’ Could not identify with the rebels’ republican aimsrepublican aims

Yet popular misconception that SF were Yet popular misconception that SF were involvedinvolved

““SF Rising”, a term inaccurately used by SF Rising”, a term inaccurately used by both British press and government both British press and government

SF benefited from the arrest and SF benefited from the arrest and imprisonment of Griffith and other SF imprisonment of Griffith and other SF leaders. Martyrs…to an extent!leaders. Martyrs…to an extent!

In immediate aftermath of rising SF well In immediate aftermath of rising SF well positioned to make political capital. IPP positioned to make political capital. IPP too compromised by association with govt too compromised by association with govt and so SF by default became the focus for and so SF by default became the focus for all those appalled at the British response all those appalled at the British response to the rising.to the rising.

This connection deliberately emphasised This connection deliberately emphasised by SF, eg Count Plunkett standing in first by SF, eg Count Plunkett standing in first by-election after risingby-election after rising

Other reasons for growth of SFOther reasons for growth of SF

It wasn’t the compromised IPPIt wasn’t the compromised IPP It had preserved its reputation by not It had preserved its reputation by not

being involved in the Conventionbeing involved in the Convention Conscription crisis and party’s responseConscription crisis and party’s response Broad platform allowed nationalists of Broad platform allowed nationalists of

various hues to support itvarious hues to support it British “manufacturing Sinn Feiners” British “manufacturing Sinn Feiners”

through arrests, martial lawthrough arrests, martial law

ConclusionConclusion

SF acknowledged its debt to men of 1916 SF acknowledged its debt to men of 1916 by deliberately identifying with them in by deliberately identifying with them in propagandapropaganda

No doubt that this was major reason in its No doubt that this was major reason in its initial wave of supportinitial wave of support

By 1918 its anti-conscription stance and By 1918 its anti-conscription stance and the discrediting of the IPP were possibly the discrediting of the IPP were possibly as significant in its electoral appealas significant in its electoral appeal